Express Entry: Canada Issues 334 ITAs in Provincial Nominee Draw, CRS…

The 805 cutoff represents a sharp increase from recent PNP-specific draws, which typically see CRS minimums in the 700–750 range. The jump reflects both the limited number of invitations and the competitive advantage provincial nominees hold in the Express Entry pool — candidates with a valid provincial nomination certificate automatically receive 600 additional CRS points.

Only candidates who already held a provincial nomination were eligible for this draw. To qualify, applicants must have received a nomination certificate from a participating province or territory under one of the Provincial Nominee Programs aligned with Express Entry, including streams in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and others. The nomination itself is issued by the province based on local labor market needs, and candidates must have an active Express Entry profile at the time of the federal draw.

IRCC has conducted several PNP-only draws in 2026 as part of its strategy to distribute permanent residence invitations across provinces with specific economic priorities. The 334 invitations issued in this round bring the year-to-date total for PNP draws to over 2,000, though the figure remains modest compared to the broader all-program draws that typically issue several thousand ITAs per round.

This draw affects candidates who secured provincial nominations through streams targeting skilled workers, international graduates, or in-demand occupations in participating provinces. Applicants from provinces with active Express Entry–aligned PNP streams — such as Ontario's Human Capital Priorities or British Columbia's Skills Immigration categories — were the primary beneficiaries. Candidates without a provincial nomination, regardless of their base CRS score, were not considered.

Invited candidates have 60 days from the date of invitation to submit a complete application for permanent residence through their IRCC online account. Check your account for the invitation letter, review the document checklist provided, and ensure all supporting materials — including police certificates, medical exams, and proof of funds — are ready before the deadline. Missing the 60-day window means the invitation expires and you must re-enter the pool.